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Scoutbook - Advancement Tracking Made Easy

That’s why the BSA has acquired Scoutbook, the revolutionary web app that makes tracking advancement easier, faster and more fun. That means more time for you and your Scouts to enjoy those life changing experiences they can’t get anywhere but Scouting. Imagine updating your Boy Scouts’ progress toward a rank or a merit badge with a couple of taps or clicks. Or letting Scouts input and provide proof for their own advancement progress. Or seeing at a glance which adventures your Cub Scouts lack for the next rank. Or knowing which of your unit leaders still need to complete BSA training. Or getting an automatically generated shopping list to make your trip to the Scout Shop a breeze. Or never again wondering whether you’re using the most up-to date BSA requirements. And imagine doing it all wherever you are and on the devices, you use every day. It’s all possible with Scoutbook.

The BSA’s Chief Scout Executive, says that Scoutbook will help the Boy Scouts of America better connect with today’s connected youth.

“Kids today are always on the go, and their communication habits and preferences reflect it,” he says.

“More than 75 percent of U.S. children now have access to a smartphone or tablet — a statistic that points toward a significant opportunity for BSA, and one our organization proudly has seized upon. Scoutbook is our latest approach to delivering a more digital experience that is both fun and meaningful for our members.” Keep reading for more details about this exciting announcement. Yes, it’ll work on your device. Scoutbook is an app, but it’s a web app. That means you’ll be able to use it if you have an iPhone, Android phone, Windows Phone, BlackBerry — or even (gasp!) your PC or tablet.

There’s nothing to download. You’ll just type the URL, scoutbook.com, into your browser on a smartphone, tablet or computer. The secure website knows which device you’re using, so it’ll load in a format that looks great on screens big and small. Scoutbook lives in the cloud on an encrypted server. That means if your computer crashes or you lose your phone, all that hard work doesn’t disappear. It also means multiple leaders — and the Scouts themselves — can share in the advancement tracking duties.

Wait, the Scouts themselves? Yes, one of my favorite things about Scoutbook is that Scouts can use it, too. Scouts can fulfill some of the duties of their position of responsibility, upload photos of them work on merit badge requirements or share how much fun they had on the last campout with a video— all from Scoutbook.

Parents can use it to keep an eye on their son or daughter’s progress toward ranks and awards. Scoutbook’s tagline is no exaggeration. It really is “the whole Scouting experience rolled into one amazing web app.” By a unit leader, for unit leaders.

Some 43 out of 156 units in our Council have already subscribed to Scoutbook’s awesomeness. That’s even more impressive when you consider the web app has only been around since 2013.

Scoutbook is the brainchild of Shawn Jackson, a parent and an active member of the Scouting community. It’s awesome knowing Scoutbook was created by a Scouter. And it makes sense, really. Who better but a real unit leader to solve the advancement tracking challenges real unit leaders face? The good news for current (and future!) Scoutbook users is that Jackson isn’t going anywhere. He’ll stay on to direct Scoutbook development, and the BSA’s National Council will work with him to make sure the app’s deployment to Scouts, parents, volunteers and unit leaders goes smoothly.

Technology only works if it, well, works. So, the BSA and Jackson are committed to providing a reliable tool that will make your life easier.